Rebels’ Hawkins finally gets shot to start

A streak Justin Hawkins has been riding is about to end, and the UNLV junior guard is unsure how to feel about it.

Sixty-seven times in his college basketball career, Hawkins has checked into a game as a substitute. Finally, his first start for the Rebels has arrived.

Obviously eager to get the shot, Hawkins said, "At the same time, I never want to see teammates out."

Three of his teammates will be sidelined when UNLV opens the regular season against Grand Canyon, a Division II team from Phoenix, at 7 p.m. Friday at the Thomas & Mack Center.

Hawkins will be subbing as a starter for senior forward Chace Stanback, the Rebels' top returning scorer. Stanback is serving a one-game suspension after pleading guilty to driving under the influence of marijuana in the offseason.

Junior guard Anthony Marshall also is suspended, but his one-game penalty was handed down Monday by the NCAA. Marshall unknowingly violated a rule by playing in two summer leagues.

Kendall Wallace, a senior shooting guard with 10 career starts on his resume, will fill Marshall's spot in the lineup.

In addition to Hawkins and Wallace, UNLV coach Dave Rice plans to start senior point guard Oscar Bellfield, senior center Brice Massamba and sophomore forward Mike Moser, a UCLA transfer. Only Bellfield has been a regular for the Rebels.

Also missing in action will be sophomore forward Carlos Lopez, who suffered a sprained right ankle in practice last week. The remaining reserves, if Rice opts not to play any of his three walk-ons, are junior forward Quintrell Thomas and sophomore guard Karam Mashour.

"We've just got to find a way," Rice said, "and guys tend to step up in times of adversity."

Rice, left with a skeleton crew of seven scholarship players, is fortunate UNLV is not opening against No. 1 North Carolina on an aircraft carrier. The Antelopes of the Pacific West Conference might give the Rebels all they can handle.

"It's definitely an odd situation," Hawkins said. "But we have confidence in whatever team we bring to the table."

Hawkins, a relentless defender who can play three perimeter positions, brings the type of versatility a short-handed team needs. He played 32 minutes and contributed five points and four steals in UNLV's 58-50 exhibition victory over Division II Washburn (Kan.) on Nov. 1.

The exhibition marked Hawkins' only start since his senior year at Woodland Hills (Calif.) Taft High School.

"This is an opportunity for him to step up," Marshall said. "He's been here as long as I have, so it's time for him to get in there and get a lot of playing time. In adversity, these are the times we have to pull together as a family and depend on one another."

Rice reported the secondary rule violation by Marshall, who played briefly in one game in a second summer league before the error was caught and he was pulled off the floor.

"I put both leagues on the form, and I got an email saying I was cleared, so I thought I was cleared for both," Marshall said. "A rule is a rule, and it was just an honest mistake."

Similar players in several ways, Marshall is more of an offensive threat than Hawkins, who scored in double figures five times and averaged 5.0 points in 33 games last season.

"I know I've got to be a lot more aggressive on both ends," Hawkins said. "Not a lot of people saw it during the exhibition game, but I know my outside shot is there. Whatever Coach needs from me, I'll go out there and do it."

Defending is what Hawkins does best. With a short bench, Rice will stress to players the importance of staying fundamentally sound on defense to avoid foul trouble.

"It's a great opportunity for our guys to play extended minutes. If nothing else, it will make our substitution pattern a little bit easier to figure out," Rice said.

"Justin has got a really high basketball IQ, so he can play three positions. With seven guys, it's pretty important to have guys who can play multiple positions."

Contact reporter Matt Youmans at myoumans@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2907.